Comes standard with a 40GB hard drive. This translates into 120 hours of high-quality recording.

Simultaneous live recording on eight tracks

BOUNCE key for instant mixdown

Marker function, A-B repeat, punch-in recording

Continuous project playback -- The master tracks of several projects can be played back in succession. This function--called sequence play--is handy to preview an album that you want to burn onto a CD, or to provide automated accompaniment during a live performance.

Track Edit
10 types of track edit functions

COPY Copy & paste. Easily repeat the contents of a phrase.
MOVE Assemble the best takes from various sources onto a single track.
ERASE Mute any specified range, for example to eliminate noise or clean up mistakes.
TRIM Remove unwanted portions before and after a stretch of recorded data, to keep only the parts that matter.
FADE I/O Select from three curves for fade-in and fade-out, and specify the time for the fade interval.
REVERSE Get wild and wonderful sound by reversing audio data.
TIME STRECH Change the tempo without altering the pitch. Great for tweaking the master data before burning a CD.
PITCH FIX Match the pitch of vocal passages or provide pitch correct effect.
HARMONY GENERATE Create a 3-part harmony from the vocal track that matches the programmed chord.
DUO HARMONY Add a third up or down harmony component to the melody.

Scrub / preview function to find exactly the right spot

Internal 24-bit processing and mixing automation support -- The digital mixer handles a total of 27 channels: 19 playback tracks including internal drum and bass, plus 8 input channels. Parameters such as volume, panning, EQ, phase, and effect send level can be adjusted individually for each track. The convenient "scene" function saves up to 100 different setups, for instant recall of all parameters. By assigning a scene to a marker point of the recorder, it is even possible to change the mixing balance or effect settings automatically as the song progresses. A solo function that lets you monitor a single track also comes in handy.

Truly "FAST" rhythm programming -- FAST (Formula Assisted Song Translator) is an innovative programming method developed by ZOOM that lets you build rhythm patterns using simple calculator-like symbols. With the drum pads serving as a numeric keypad, you can quickly enter a drum program for an entire song. For example, to play pattern number 010 eight times and then pattern number 020 sixteen times, you enter 10 x 8 + 20 x 16. After a song has been written with FAST, you can edit patterns and change event information in the same way as with a regular song.

High-performance sequencer also incorporates SMF player (Standard MIDI Files) -- The built-in rhythm sequencer can operate in sync with the recorder section, letting you create rhythm accompaniment and audio tracks in an interactive environment. If you import existing SMF (Standard MIDI Files), you can control the built-in rhythm sound sources or external multi-timbre sound sources connected via the MIDI link.

Phrase Loop
By freely combining parts of an audio track or WAV/AIFF file phrases imported from a sampling CD-ROM, you can create a loop track. Program the phrase sequence for an entire song using FAST, and then write the result to any track as audio data. Or go a step further and create multiple loop tracks with drums, bass, rhythm guitar and other instruments played by professional musicians.

Pad Sampler
The pads on the MRS-1608 can also be used to play parts of V-takes or WAV/AIFF files. Add samples and sound effects to a song, and play them in the drum track sequence. Up to 1000 samples can be stored in a "sample pool" on the internal hard disk. A project can contain up to 10 sampler programs, each using 36 samples (total playing time 22 seconds).

Effects
Insert effect -- Nine types of effect algorithms optimized for various input sources, such as guitar / bass, synthesizer, vocals, and mic recording of acoustic instruments are built into the MRS-1608. The algorithms are configured using six effect modules with 103 effect types.

Mastering effect -- When you are creating the final mix, you have access to quality effects such as the high-performance equalizer and the multi-band compressor with individual parameters for each band.

CD Burner
CD-R/RW drive for creating audio CDs and backing up data

Disc-at-once for efficient CD writing

Interface
XLR input with phantom power supply and digital output -- Up to eight mics can be plugged in at once. Four channels are equipped with a +48V phantom power supply. Hi-Z jacks for guitar/bass and RCA type jacks are also available. An optical S/P DIF output lets you send a digital signal to a DAT or MD master recorder.

Synchronization with MTC and MIDI clock

USB 2.0 support ensures high-speed data transfer -- The optional USB interface board UIB-02 lets you connect the MRS-1608 to a computer (Windows or Mac) equipped with a USB port.

Sound:
It has very low noise. The preamps are pretty good. The effects are good as well, although the presets are set at ridiculously over-the-top levels.
Feature:
The Fx routing capabilities are minimal. You have 2 sends per channel, but you can only have one reverb and one delay and not, for example, two different reverbs. There is also one insert effect per channel, whereas 2 or 3 would be preferable. You can of course get over this by bouncing down a track with Fx added and then adding Fx to another track. But this means that the original track is now stuck with that Fx setting regardless of how your mix develops. The drum sounds are pretty good, and sampler capability is great. Drum programming is a pain the wotnot, and if you write songs with different combinations of beats it takes a long time, and then you can't really edit afterwards, you have to start from scratch. Other than that everything works as you would expect, or better. If you're into using a lot of effects, and complicated routing, you're better off with a Yamaha AW16G or similar. If you are like me and just want to record guitars etc with the minimum of fuss then this will give you high quality recordings. One other word of warning is that THERE IS NO UNDO, which means you have to be quite careful not to accidentally erase things etc. Probably not a good purchase if you are a stoner and your mind and memory are shot to pieces. Also, if you are buying this, make sure you have the optional USB board if you have a PC. This will save you hours of time backing up your work etc, and it opens up loads more possibilities. USB works flawlessly.
Ease of Use:
Very easy to use. that's the best thing about it. doesn't take long to learn, and once you know how you can set things up and record very quickly. Can be slightly confusing when you forget that you have just been setting the EQ or panning and start pressing buttons as if you were in the normal mode, but this doesn't cause any major problems. I don't understand why some people have said it's difficult to use...
Quality:
This is a difficult one for me to comment on: I bought an MRS1608 and I immediately had problems with it. It kept conking out unexpectedly, as if there was a problem with the hard drive or the power to the hard drive. Went back to the manufacturer twice (via the dealer). The first time they said it was fixed but it wasn't. The second time they kept it for so long I complained and in the end the dealer said I'd been messed around for too long, and sent me a completely new one. The new one has worked 100 percent fine for 6 months now, with quite heavy use. Never a single crash, glitch or anything. I've not heard of any other MRS1608 owners who had the problem I had with my 1st one, so I think I must have just been very unlucky and got a rare dud one. Based on the current one, it would be 10 out of 10, as it is sturdy, well put together and never crashes.
Value:
Definitely worth the price. Some of the recordings I've made have astonished my friends, who thought they were commercial recordings. Make sure you know what you want to record, and how, before buying this however. Great for people who want to record a demo with relatively little other equipment and no hassle. If you want to integrate it into a complicated studio setup it is maybe not ideal.
Manufacturer Support:
See above. They were willing to repair but took months trying, in the end taking so long that I was supplied with a new one.
The Wow Factor:
It looks good. My only criticism is that it's a bit big, and is quite cumbersome to carry to rehearsals. My friend has an AW16G which is much more portable (but doesn't have drum machine, sampler etc etc etc)
Overall:
If this was lost or stolen, I'd buy another one, or the new version that Zoom are bringing out.

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"Ahhh! At Last!"

Sound:
We use this multi-track recorder in various places as well as our home studio. It works well with our needs to utilize talent in various states.
Feature:
The ability to load material from a CD is a great addition to this new model. Also the ability to have multiple masters is fantastic. I like the repositioning of the headphones to the front. Having 8 inputs is another great feature. And pitch correct! We love it!
Quality:
This machine is great for taking on the road.
Value:
Yes!
Manufacturer Support:
Zoom tech support has always been patient and helpful. Friendly and able to help us get through our questions.
The Wow Factor:
When we got the 1608 running, it was like coming home to your own place...comfortable, and I knew we would be off and running in no time.
Overall:
I would get another Zoom. We wanted this one for 6 months and at last we have it.

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A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.

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